A former Wilmslow schoolboy has kept a glass beaker given to him to mark the Queen’s Coronation in 1953.

John Rodway, 70, was 11 years old and a pupil at the now-demolished Chancel Lane Church of England School when he received the beaker from the former Wilmslow Urban District Council (WUDC).

The council presented every child with a 120mm tall, blue glass beaker with a gold rim, royal coat of arms on one side and the WUDC coat of arms on the other.

Many of the delicate items failed to survive after being given to the youngsters, but Mr Rodway kept his safe.

He was pictured with other children in the Express in 1953 toasting the Queen with the glass in front of a display model of the Coronation procession John had helped to make.

The grandfather-of-two, who now lives in Woodley, said: “The glass is fragile but I took a box and packing and put my beaker in to bring it home.

“Some of the children ran with the beakers and they broke, I remember seeing one on the ground outside St Bartholomew’s Church – that one didn’t last long.

“The glass was made by Chance Bros, a Midlands company which my great uncle worked for, though he was not involved in its manufacture.

“I have kept the glass safe ever since, in the loft full of treasures, knowing that some day it might be of interest.”

The retired teacher and education consultant was born in Wilmslow and lived near Lindow Common with his parents Allan and Marion before moving to Stockport when he was 22.

His dad Allan ran Rodway watchmakers and jewellers on Alderley Road until around 25 years ago.

John said he remembers Coronation day in Wilmslow on June 2, 1953, when the council organised celebrations for residents in The Carrs.

John, married to Belinda, said: “There was bunting everywhere and the event brought a bit of colour back at a time of austerity when war was still fresh in people’s memories. Things were rundown and drab then but the coronation lifted people’s spirits.”

The 60th anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation will be marked with a service at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday, June 4 at 11am.